Subtropical Escape

Three of my tv camera buddies and myself walked the 185 steps to the top of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse without breaking a sweat today. Yesterday we were striking heavy tables and tv equipment for storage so this short hike up a circulating staircase was uber easy. Bermuda is only 21 miles long by 1 mile wide so from atop the lighthouse you can see every breathtaking view of shoreline. It's interesting to note that only 3 years ago Bermuda was hit by Hurricane Fabian that caused massive destruction to this tiny British territory. Over 20,000 trees fell, millions of dollars of structural damage destroyed hotels and homes and the only major causeway crumbled into the ocean. Surprisingly, none of this is visible today. This picturesque archipelago has rock formations and inlets so beautiful with blushing sands so warm to your toes that you'll gladly fork over the riches needed to vacation here. It's shocking but a hotdog and hamburger will set you back $50 for a family of four and alcohol is taxed upwards of 21%. In fact, after Toyko and Hong Kong, Bermuda's cost of living is one of the highest in the world. I say save the fine dining for another island but wet your appetite diving in the dazzling turquoise waves and secluded coves of this subtropical paradise.

Bermuda Shorts

It wouldn't be Bermuda without Bermuda Shorts! Yes, it's true; anyone who's anybody is still wearing Bermuda shorts, a vintage fad that began in the 60's and is still trendy today. More than just trendy the fad is required attire at the Fairmont Southhampton Hotel. Even Bermuda's flag and airport welcome sign proudly display a bright pink pair with a zipper up the front.

Be it the shorts or the sunny weather all the locals are unusually friendly or at least by New York standards. Eye contact with a smile and 'hello' is standard protocol and to not return the same gesture seems rude. I was even called 'baby doll' by a happy stagehand crew member who helped break down my equipment tonight. And rather than be insulted or interpret it as sexist I thought it was endearing and cute. "Ahhh, shucks, thanks sweetie," I said in return.

There's much to see and do before my flight home tomorrow like explore the Crystal Caves, snorkel both Church and West Whale Bay and swim with the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Luckily, I'm returning in a couple weeks for the same work assignment so what I don't do this time I'll be sure to do the next time.

Before retiring tonight I'm outside my Fairmont Southhampton Hotel balcony sipping a soda and watching the rotating beacon of the distant Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. Rather than party with another round of 'Dark and Stormies' I'm saving my energy to climb its' 185 steps to the top. Gibbs Lighthouse was built in 1844 and is the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world. A 1,000 watt bulb inside emits a light so strong it can be seen by ships 40 miles away and from a distance of 120 miles by a plane flying at 10,000 feet. Just curious but I wonder if the lighthouse keeper wears Bermuda shorts as well... I'll be sure to find out.

Bermuda Beaches

Ahhhh, our own private beach to escape to after 14 long hours in a hot hotel amphitheater. Me and boys of Shenise Productions were busy setting up cameras, monitors and lighting for a big company shindig tomorrow morning. Very little of Bermuda was enjoyed today but come Saturday we're treating our lame souls to some more R&R at this gorgeous find called Horseshoe Bay. It's where Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset shot the movie "The Deep" in 1977. Never would I have dared to imagine myself 30 years later swimming in the same waters where so many of my fears of scary waters started!

Rasta for Life

An early morning departure had me scrambling to pack my bags at 4am this morning for an assignment to Bermuda for the rest of the week. We just touched down a few minutes ago and from what little I've seen so far it's absolutely stunning. It's obviously a very rich island with celebrity sightings the norm and golf balls being driven into taxi cab windows. In fact, the PGA tournament will be held here next week. Eugene, my own taxicab tourguide pointed out condos like the Ariel Sands, 4 million dollar estates personally owned by Michael Douglas. His gated compound, on the south-end of the island, is surrounded by lush tropical greens and pink sandy beaches. Water supply is in high demand here so sparkling white rooftops are terrace-cut to store and filter nature's rain water. Oh my... a gorgeous sun just broke through the clouds - I have to run...

I'm back from a midnight dip in the 24-hour outdoor swimming pool at the The Fairmont Southampton. Before cooling off I slid into a toasty-warm infinity hot-tub, half expecting to see other hotel guests but instead visited by the full moon overhead. It slipped behind clouds every so often so the light cast strange shadows on the swaying palms. The weather is just right, the wind is balmy and dry and there's a cacophony of crickets outside my window singing tonight. What an absolutely perfect place to escape to, away from commitments, responsibilities and well, life in general. Sunken ships, coral reefs and flying manarays abound for SCUBA enthusiasts but maybe next time. Right now I'm capping off the evening with a 'Dark and Stormy' or as they mix in Bermuda - 2 oz Gosling's® Black Seal rum, 1 bottle ginger beer and 1 slice of lime, on the rocks of course.

Unscripted Drama

Watching a scene for CSI being filmed at The Metropolitan Museum was nothing compared to the excitement erupting at the United Nations Building on Monday. The firebrand Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the National Press Club in Washington by video-conference and then spoke at Columbia University. Large protests and closed city streets made Manhattan a true nightmare to drive through. The indignation circling in the air for this controversial figure was definitely palpable and with good reason. The New Yorkers I spoke to were most concerned that Ahmadinejad NOT lay a wreath at Ground Zero - a place he hoped to go. I was in town on an assignment not related to Ahmadinejad but it turned out that everywhere I videotaped my driving was effected by his presence. Returning home I caught his speech at Columbia U. on the radio as well as most of the 60 minutes interview with Scott Pelley. CSI has been the number one scripted series in the Neilsen ratings for four years running but everyone, again, rightly so, was paying more attention to the real drama unfolding with a man who sponsors terrorism.

Blowing Hot Air

We waited for hours for the wind to die down so that we could jump aboard a hot air balloon and go for a ride today. But alas it was not meant to be.

The 35th annual Hot Air Balloon Festival, the biggest and best balloon attraction in Glens Falls, if not the entire U.S., kicked off last Thursday and concludes tonight. Hundreds of balloons of all shapes, sizes and colors set sail at 6am this morning to clear and calm skies. If Uncle Evo was able to rise and shine without needing so much coffee in the morning I would be posting balloons rather than baskets right now. But 6am is much too early especially on one of my few days of rest and so we missed the early excitement.

The launch would repeat itself again at 6pm so I wasn't worried. But, after waiting for hours and then listening to an explanation as to why the Rotary Club (one of the shows vendors) didn't sell beer any more, I knew Uncle Evo's patience was waning. With a half-hour left before the second take-off the balloon owners dashed all hopes by admitting "it didn't look promising". Big mistake.

No sooner after we left and were sightseeing the Saratoga Battlegrounds when Mother Nature became super still, almost eerily still. Sure enough, it was 6pm and it was as if the 'Wind Gods' switched off a rotating fan. The show went on without the beer, wind or us. Even a super-sized pizza couldn't make up for the disappointment I felt in missing some spectacular photography on another gorgeous Autumn day. I hope you faired better.

The Alps of New York

The Germans weren't exactly hiking in their native Alps but they approved of the High Peaks in the Adirondacks anyways. Whew! My teutonic family are still in town this month and with 48 hours free before my next assignment I brought them to Cascade Mnt. just outside of Lake Placid. They sure are an active bunch wanting both the best in brew and the best in biking, hiking and climbing. No wonder they always stay so slim despite enjoying the best Brot (that means bread) in the world. I even found them a fantastic breakfast shop called Soulshine Bagel next to the hotel we're bunking in. Cascade is one of the smallest High Peaks but offers a 360 degree panaromic view of Marcy, Mount Van Hoevenberg and WhiteFace in the distance. Leaf peepers from Canada, France and all over the Northeast joined us after a 2.4 mile hike up. And with beautiful blue skys and temps in the low 70's, the Germans pasty pale skin turned a bright shade of red as they whistled a youthful happy song. Undoubtedly, an ode to Beer that we'd share once we got back to the bottom.

Raising the Curtain at Hildene

The Hildene family home in Manchester, Vermont is a special place to learn about Robert Todd Lincoln, the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to adulthood. It's also the ideal setting for a movie backdrop with one of Vermont's most legendary theater playwrights, Fred Carmichael. In the bottom photo he's having a fake moustache glued on for a narrative outdoor scene.

Today's assignment was one of my first experiences shooting for a film production and/or with actors. At 83 years old, Fred likes to admit that he's dyslexic and rather is 38 years young. What a beautifully entertaining and humorous professional to work side-by-side with on a gorgeous Autumn day. Nor could have I asked for a more patient Director to instruct me on movie-making tips and guidelines. I can't tell you too much more about the film because it's suppose to be a secret.. but know that as soon as it's edited and released, you'll be the first to know where to see PilotGirl's credit.

Playwrights Horizons

The Playwrights Horizons Theater on Theater Row in the heart of Manhattan was today's assignment. For 36 years, Playwrights Horizons on 42nd street has nurtured new writers and theater artists into veteran professionals with outstanding productions. Susan Arbetter of New York Now, an insightful sometimes controversial PBS program on WMHT-TV, sat with theater visionaries like Judith Rubin, founder of the Tony Awards. She and Susan talked about the importance of off-Broadway productions and the need for government funding. Not only are midsize theaters like Playwrights Horizons the perfect place for potential Broadway hits but the stage where I set up my lights and equipment made for the ideal dramatic backdrop to highlight the crisis for Susan's interviews.
If your in NYC before the end of the month check out the World Premiere of a new play by Kate Fodor called 100 Saints You Should Know.

The Taconic Time Machine

The Taconic Parkway is a wonderful country-road alternative to I-87 when you're driving south towards NYC. The narrow country road twists and turns under old stone-arch overpasses and thick bent branches while threading past rustic farmlands and deep blue lakes. The speed limit is 55mph for most of it but I wouldn't want to drive faster. It's too beautiful and well-preserved to whiz by in a blur or let your mind wonder elsewhere.

While on assignment in Connecticut today I used the Taconic Parkway instead of the typically crowded trip down I-87. Boy, was I ever happy I did. Radio stations now come in with perfect clarity and my mobile phone only lost service twice during the 2-hour journey. An occassional deer was even spotted chomping grass on the side shoulder. The route is a relic from a past when Sunday drives were encouraged as recreational past-times. A few landmark restaurants and diners also remain open to serve hungry travelers nostalgic tales of past celebrities passing through. In a couple weeks make sure to spend your Sunday afternoon leaf-peeping on the Columbia County stretch - it's unbelievable.

The Talented Mr. Riley

"Kann ich ein Bier bitte haben?” repeats Uncle Evo as he refills his water bottle with alkaline geiser water straight from a Saratoga spout.

"Wait, Uncle Evo - that's not beer!" I warn.

Too late. He tilts his head back and takes a hearty swig, even swashing some between his cheeks and gums. He doesn't seem bothered and wipes his lips dry.

"Das ist gut", he smacks.

A refined beer drinker like Uncle Evo thinks natural Saratoga spring water with a mix of aluminum, potassium and something sulfer smelling, tastes good? That makes no sense.

Following the taste-testing we peek inside The Hall of Mirrors where preparations for the Annual Sch’dy School District Athletic Hall of Fame and Reunion Dinner are taking place that evening. The wait staff at the door anxiously whisper "and Pat Riley is here to speak too!" Everyone is excited and working at a feverish pitch to welcome a celebrity basketball coach who is the second winningest coach in NBA history. With Pat Riley in town my need to show off Saratoga is higher than ever. Furthermore, I was hoping of the slight possibility of running into him. None of us are basketball fans (especially Uncle Evo) but Pat Riley is legendary and worthy of a handshake.

We continue our journey down Broadway, through Congress Park, up and around the empty grandstands at the track and then back down towards Broadway. Then it hits me - anybody who is somebody usually stays at the prestigious Adelphi Hotel. The hotel is a 1877 survivor from a time when world class social, artistic and intellectual luminaries vacationed during horse-racing season. It's a special Saratoga landmark and I was sure that the coach would be kicking back and enjoying himself there. We walk inside and request to sit out back in the courtyard.

"I'm sorry but it's reserved right now", says the receptionist.

"But, there are only 4 people sitting back there, that I can see", I point out.

"Yes, but..."

She's stops short. Unlike the kitchen help at the Hall of Springs, she won't admit that the talented Mr. Riley is the sole reason for privacy in the courtyard. I smile knowing that Saratoga is growing but will never be big enough to hide the stature of this man.

Harnesses and Holds

The Austrian Alps are larger in size, scope and dimension than the Catskills but my relatives visiting from Germany still enjoyed a brisk hike up and around the Gunks today. The Gunks, short for the Shawangunks Mountain Range, stretches over 50 miles from Port Jervis to Rosendale and reaches 260 feet in height. It didn't take us more than an hour to hurry down I-87 exit at New Paltz and then skirt over to the Mohonk Preserve.

Unfortunately, when we got there we paid a fairly high entrance fee of $9/per person. No matter how hard I argued for senior citizen discounts or half-day rates (we arrived at 3pm) the woman at the counter wouldn't budge. Little did I know, nor did she tell me, that I could have parked for free about 1 mile up the road. Personally, that's taking advantage of unsuspecting visitors so if you visit be forewarned that your paying $9 for a small fold-out map.

The hiking in the Gunks especially at the Minnewaska State Park Preserve is truly breathtaking. Several sections offer remote wilderness as well as well-marked trails and on weekdays the paths are practically empty. The leaves are aging fast though. By next week popping browns, reds and oranges will be a delight to photograph. And, if you've got the right gear and grit try climbing the Trapps, Near Trapps, Skytop and Millbrook. My Aunt and Uncle left their carabiners and crampons in Deutschland or we would have been climbing all night.

Bier Bitte

"Kann ich ein Bier bitte haben?" huffs and puffs Uncle Evo, a native of Deutchland who just finished mowing a week's worth of fresh grass. He staggers to the patio table and collapses. Uncle Evo has earned his beer well after tackling an overgrown lawn with absolutely no prior experience mowing or operating dangerous machinery. Can you imagine being 65 years and never once pushing a mower because there's not enough land to own property with your apartment or house? In German, land is a premium that only a few, very few privileged enjoy.

My Aunt and Uncle are experiencing several firsts this weekend including enjoying Indian fare at Shalimar restaurant and listening to jazz at Albany's Riverfront festival. They've taken in the great Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza, the State Capital, the Palace Theater, the State Museum, Quackenbush Square, the SUNY Administration Building, City Hall and even Washington Park. Being the 4th oldest city in the U.S., Albany's a treasure to history buffs and admirers of great architecture. Not only am I gaining a whole new appreciating for this city but I'm also discovering that good local Pale Ale is a great alternative to Bully Hill's best.

"Kann ich ein Bier bitte haben?" again asks Uncle Evo. This seems to be an expression I'll be hearing more of as weeks progress...

September Sightseeing

Miss Hatcher, Demi and Mischa Barton: three hollywood femme-fatales popped in to watch skinny models saunter down the catwalk. It's Fashion Week in NYC and my friend Angela is assisting models, celebrities and over-priced designers through the maze of couture lineups. Angela's been working backstage at the "The Tent" in Bryant park all week but broke briefly to dine at Ginger (a fabulously affordable Thai/Chinese restaurant on 7th ave) with Mutti and me. She, bedecked in a curvy Donna Karan top and sporting a vintage-style Jimmy-Choo handbag is expected to dress to impress even while working backstage. It's not how I usually see Angela, true to her upstate roots in faded jeans and an everyday t-shirt, but during Fashion Week everybody's inner child plays 'dress-up'.

Mutti's family from Deutschland are in town for 3 weeks and pending any big obligations to production assignments I'll be showcasing creative outdoor adventures in New York State, Massachussetts and Vermont. The Gunks, short for Shawangunks, is a perilous place for brave rock climbers but it's first on our list followed by the Thatcher Park escarpment and then a little history at the Capital in downtown Albany. Stay fixed on this blog for a 3-week whirlwind tour.

Sweet Baby James

He's earned 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards along with 5 Grammy Awards and yours truly (pinch myself) actually got to work with him in his Berkshire home in Massachusetts today. It's so very rare to find but always a treat to work with celebrities who act more like everyday folk than the icons they truly are. And nobody embodies that self-effacing, inviting and affectionate personality more than James Taylor. What other musician would be so kind as to carry my tripod as well as my 20 pound HD camera around Tanglewood in the late evening? He and his enchanting wife Kim were even gracious enough to invite me to share sandwich wraps in their studio barn hours before taping commenced.

From filming hills brushed with sunshine to dusty dirt roads casting long shadows to babbling brooks winding through mossy overgrown woodlands, it's easy to see what inspires James's ethereal lyrics. No matter if he has performed to sell-out crowds in Sydney, London, Paris and Rio, the Berkshires are his home and the 'One Man Band' DVD/CD compilation (out in stores come November) hopes to cement his musical kinship to this area. The project is being directed and produced by a top-shelf California company called Don Mischer Productions with cameo shooting by PilotGirl Productions.

And just to show how real this musical legend is: rather than let a lowly grounds keeper do it, he plucked a dead Mickey from a dirty mousetrap behind a studio garbage pail and disposed of the smelly rodent accordingly - with not so much as a fuss or face. Only a 'true man of the people' could do that!

Hungry for History

My last night in Boston and nothing's spookier than a Venetian Gothic revival style church like Trinity, Old South Church and Harvard University's Memorial Hall. The campanile on this spooky gem makes it a treasure to photograph at night. I snagged an adorable visiting Hungarian tourist looking for some company on his journey through Boston and showed him all my favorite historical hotspots including the State House atop Beacon Hill. To top things off we shared a couple Sam Adams beers at the Beantown Pub overlooking Samuel Adam's burial site. The Hungarian was most appreciative and I got great ideas to return in October for the Old Town Trolley's Ghosts and Gravestones Tour.